InsectNet forum

58chevy · by 58chevy » Fri Sep 20, 2024 2:04 am

There is a large Lantana patch near my house that is exploding with blooms right now and attracting butterflies. I've never seen the variety that changes colors.

kevinkk · by kevinkk » Thu Sep 19, 2024 11:22 pm

Nice. Lantana also seems to be deer resistant. That means that deer choose my other plants first, and have as yet, not chomped any Lantana.
Finding nice looking plants that flower, are less tasty than others and will do well where you put them isn't always easy.
Proactive can be the order, the lupine had to be fenced in this year, and successfully bloomed, I could have photographed it I suppose ,a
nice yellow and purple colored cultivar.
it's always too late when you realize you have deer salad or your plant is homesick.

58chevy · by 58chevy » Thu Sep 19, 2024 10:21 pm

Here's an unusually large Nymphalis antiopa, with swallowtails for size comparison:

livingplanet3 · by livingplanet3 » Thu Sep 19, 2024 5:58 pm

Now that the weather is getting milder, the Lantanas are starting to bloom well again, including a particularly colorful variety with flowers that start out yellow, then change to white, then pink. Photo below.

Lantana has proven to be a good choice for my yard - they tolerate the summer heat, and need very little maintenance apart from watering. They die back to the ground after the first hard freeze, but quickly grow back from the base in the spring. Same with Cannas, so for a few months of the year, I don't even need to water them.

Trehopr1 · by Trehopr1 » Thu Sep 19, 2024 2:38 pm

I should have mentioned that if anyone does have a specimen photograph to share with us it would be very helpful to many if a "typical" size example of the species were shown along with your oversize specimen.

Measurements are also helpful if you have no "typical" examples to show us.

Trehopr1 · by Trehopr1 » Wed Sep 18, 2024 10:14 pm

In the insect world "out-sized", extra large, or otherwise
oversize examples exist. Naturally, we collectors are keen
to finding such unusual examples whether we collect it
ourselves, purchase it, or bid on it in earnest at auction.

I suppose its just part of human nature to strive for bigger
and better especially if you have an affinity for collecting
something.

Thought this could make for an interesting thread.

So, if any hobbist of insects out there has ANY "unusual-sized"
insect in their collection to show us for ooh's and aah's sake
then feel free to post it here on this thread (along with any
pertinent background info. on how you came across it).

My initial entry to this topic revolves around a couple of
common Colias species (here in the eastern US).

Pictured below are 2 sets of (male) Colias eurytheme
and Colias philodice. Both males at the top are typical
sized examples for their respective species. The considerably
larger males at the bottom are something one only runs
across (here and there) in the field.

In fact, if I had to compare "apples to oranges" here I would
have to say from experiance that super-size males of C. philodice
are MUCH less often encountered between the two.

Both oversized specimens were collected by me in the same field
recently on Sept.03. 2024

Trehopr1 · by Trehopr1 » Wed Sep 18, 2024 9:25 pm

Thank you very much livingplanet3 for the ID !

As is the case these days with much of this "semi-prepared" and packaged material one gets very little information except for perhaps a (general) locality and maybe a date of capture.

livingplanet3 · by livingplanet3 » Wed Sep 18, 2024 6:11 pm

Trehopr1 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 09, 2024 3:46 am Unidentified sp. (W. Malaysia) July 2005...

This is a species of Theopompa, probably either T. servillei or T. tosta. Commonly referred to as "Giant Bark Mantids".

littlegreenmantis · by littlegreenmantis » Wed Sep 18, 2024 1:18 pm

i love mantis, they are like the insect version of cats. majestic, perfectly designed apex predators but they really arent the brightest and the more time you spend around them the sillier they are

Eddie-Bug · by Eddie-Bug » Tue Sep 17, 2024 10:44 am

Here's a better one.

Eddie-Bug · by Eddie-Bug » Tue Sep 17, 2024 10:42 am

Yes, I posted four after reducing them to max 288kB each.

Have now posted again.

adamcotton · by adamcotton » Tue Sep 17, 2024 9:02 am

Welcome Eddie,

I assume you wanted to post a photo. Please note that the size must be under 800kb. See viewtopic.php?t=4 for information on how to post pictures.

Adam.

Eddie-Bug · by Eddie-Bug » Tue Sep 17, 2024 8:52 am

On our front door all day yesterday.

Believed to be meconema thalassinum (Oak Bush-Cricket) female, about 20mm (double including antennae). But any thoughts please?

Small by world standards, but we don't have very large insects here.

Beautiful bright green green. Hope it made it's way back to camouflage overnight.

ExtraSuperNoise · by ExtraSuperNoise » Mon Sep 16, 2024 5:15 pm

livingplanet3 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 3:09 pm
ExtraSuperNoise wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 2:05 pm Is this bedbug? Should I be worried?
No, it's a weevil beetle, and they don't bite -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weevil

Thank you very much for your response.

I have one bite on my hand, so I was immediately frightened after my girlfriend found this bug on the floor. I spoke with a pest control company, and they also agreed that it is a weevil.

livingplanet3 · by livingplanet3 » Mon Sep 16, 2024 3:09 pm

ExtraSuperNoise wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 2:05 pm Is this bedbug? Should I be worried?

No, it's a weevil beetle, and they don't bite -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weevil

ExtraSuperNoise · by ExtraSuperNoise » Mon Sep 16, 2024 2:05 pm

: F4D74C45-FDE8-446B-BFC5-D3B1BF46A011_1_105_c.jpeg (127.89 KiB) Viewed 90 times

: 1D9F2036-42E0-4EAB-8394-63CEC1EFD644_1_105_c.jpeg (188.26 KiB) Viewed 90 times

Is this bedbug? Should I be worried?

wollastoni · by wollastoni » Mon Sep 16, 2024 12:47 pm

Good for them !

wollastoni · by wollastoni » Mon Sep 16, 2024 12:45 pm

Have a look on Collector's Secret : https://www.collector-secret.com/insect ... -hawk-wasp

And I caught few of them in French Guiana, if you are interested.

alicearthropod · by alicearthropod » Mon Sep 16, 2024 9:52 am

Greetings. I hope you are well.

I'm looking for anybody interested in co-creating an insect/spider growing/breeding/selling business. I've been collecting for years now but recently I've decided to create my own business. If anyone is piqued by my venture please contact me. My email is alicebetweox@gmail com.

Kind regards,
Alice

tecsinnet · by tecsinnet » Mon Sep 16, 2024 7:45 am

Indeed found a second one now. I also ordered a gel containing imidacloprid. It seems they eat this and take it with them in their hiding place where they then die. There others are killed by eating the dead ones.

InsectNet forum

InsectNet forum

Re: Lantanas blooming again

Re: Lantanas blooming again

Re: Outsized/Oversized specimens + species

Lantanas blooming again

Re: Outsized/Oversized specimens + species

Outsized/Oversized specimens + species

Re: Mantids: the noble, patient predators.

Re: Mantids: the noble, patient predators.

Re: Mantids: the noble, patient predators.

Re: Large for UK!

Re: Large for UK!

Re: Large for UK!

Large for UK!

Re: Found dead on the floor of college dorm.

Re: Found dead on the floor of college dorm.

Found dead on the floor of college dorm.

Re: Don't collect in Sri Lanka!

Re: Best contacts for South American Pepsis species?

Looking for a business partner based in the UK

Re: Crushed insect, what is it?